Traveling for the 4th of July weekend really put a crimp in any posting. Drinking, however, was unimpeded.

Never forget that Coach Jamie Dixon has a history in New Zealand, so it is about time to see that come into play. Granted, at this time we know next to nothing about new 2012 verbal commit, Steve Adams.

The kid is a center in the 6-11 to 7-0 range. Even though, he is 16-years old, he is now playing at the U-19 level in NZ.

At just 16-years-old, the 2.11-metre Wellingtonian was the MVP at last weekend’s national under-19 championships, scoring 33 points and hauling in 23 rebounds as Wellington beat North Harbour 98-75 in the final.

Toss in some spectacular alley-oop dunks and blocked shots, and Adams is clearly a young man going places.

“I want to try and make the NBA,” Adams said. “My hero is [Orlando Magic superstar] Dwight Howard.”

Adams attends Scots College and has been in the Wellington team for three years since moving down from Rotorua. The lanky centre has blossomed under the guidance of Wellington under-19 coach Kenny McFadden.

Pitt Script has some more details, as does Cardiac Hill.

Chris Dokish was also surprised by this one, but notes that as Adams is not just a big kid, but one that actually wants to play center. What this does, though, is give Pitt the option with other bigs to recruit them to play power forward. Something that has become the first choice for so many big guys starting with Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki through Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh.

Whether this strategy pays off, remains to be seen. This is still a verbal for 2012. That is still a long time before the kid can even sign. Plus as a New Zealander, there is still the option of bypassing coming to the US right away and signing in Europe or some other professional league.